Electric switch



Oct. 5, 1937. DOUGLAS 2,095,181

ELECTR IC SWITCH Original Filed July 28, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet. 1

/NV/V 1 HARRY ,4. 001/4 1. A5

Oct. 5, 1937. H, DOUGLAS 2,095,181

ELECTRIC SWITCH Original Filed July 28, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 //v VEN TO/P. HARRY A. DOUGLLAS ATTX Patented on. s, 1937 2.09am I sum-arc swrrcn Harry A. Douglas, Bronson, Mich, alaignor to Kingston Products Corporation, a corporation of Indiana Application July 28, 1934, Serial No. 737,458 Renewed March 10, 1938 :4 claim. (01. zoo-1s) This invention relates to electric switches commonly known as the push-pull type in which a reciprocable handle is pushed or pulled upon to establish the respective operative positions of the 5 switch.

Among other objects, the invention aims to provide an improved and novel construction for this type of switch. More specifically the invention includes an economical and positive conlo struction of this type having three or more operative positions for a switch which may be. employed as a dash switch for automotive vehicles in unitary controlling relation with the stoplight, parking lights and head-lights of the ve- 15 hicle, for example. g

with these and other objects in view reference is made to the accompanying sheets of drawings illustrating an embodiment of this invention with the understanding that detail changes may be 20 made without departing from the scope thereof.-

In the drawings- Figure l is a view in side elevation of a preferred embodiment of this invention as mounted upon the instrument board of an automotive ve- 25 {111018, with parts broken away and partly in sec- Figure 2 is an enlarged longitudinal vertical sectional view of'Flgure 1, taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 3,1ooking in the direction of the arrows.

30 Figure 3 is a view in section taken on the line H of Figure 2, looking in the direction of the arrows, with parts broken away and having the parts in the position assumed when the switch is in open or oiP position.

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 3 on the line 4-4 of Figure 2, illustrating the position of the parts in the first operative position.

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 3 taken on the line 5-4 of Figure 2, showing the parts in 40 the next operative position.

Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 3 taken on the line 8-6 of Figure 2, illustrating another operative position.

Figure 7 is an enlarged detail view in perspec- 45 tive of the contact post engaged by the actuator in each operative position.

The embodiment of this invention as illustrated includes a metallic cup-shaped casing I in which the closure 2 is provided with a central circular opening 2'. The opposite end mounts a contact carrier disc I of insulating material preferably of slightly greater diameter than the casing I and is secured thereto by prolonging the walls of said casing to form a plurality of fingers l 55 which are adapted to pass through recesses provided in the circumference of the contact carrier and then bent inward to engage the outer surface thereof.

The contact carrier 3 mounts six contact posts, or strips 8. l, I, 8, It and II which are arranged 5 an equal distance from each other and from the center of the disc. The end of each strip adJacent the disc is provided with a rectangular inwardly extended right angular foot i2 and each foot is received in a similar rectangular depres- 10 sion upon the interior surface of the contact carrier. Each foot is secured to a contact receptacle or jack adapted to receive and make contact with the terminal of an electrical conductor. These contact carriers or jacks are preferably of the type illustrated in this applicantsprlor copending application, Serial No. 713,'713, filed March 2, 1934. As shown, each contact receptacle or jack includes a rectangular body i3 with a cylin drical axial extension I. The contact carrier 3 is provided with a plurality of rectangular depressions upon the exterior side opposite each foot adapted to receive the body of the jack I3 and each depression is provided with a central pessage to receive the extension ll of the jack ll. Each. foot is perforated axially of said passage and the. extension ll of the jack I3 is inserted through said passage and said perforation until the shoulder upon the Jack engages the bottom of the recess of the carrier and then the metal of the end of the extension it is riveted or spun over upon the inner side of the'foot to hold the contact strip firmly against the contact carrier and to form an electrical connection therewith. The free end of each contact strip is provided with an upstanding tongue ii. The contact strips are maintained in parallel relation to the side of the casing i by a positioning disc I! preferably oi insulating material provided with a plurality of transverse apertures l8 equally spaced from 40 each other and from the center of said disc adapted to receive therespective tongues I! with the body of the strip engaging the inner surface of the spacer. The spacer is also provided with a central aperture i8 preferably of the same dimensions as the aperture 2 in the cup closure 2.

The contact carrier disc 3 also mounts a metallic contact sleeve 20 axially of the casing l which also acts as a guide for the actuator as herer inaiter described; The contact sleeve is preferably, provided with a reduced portion 2i adapted to pass through a central opening 22 and an extension boss 23 provided upon the carrier disc 3 having the shouldered portion seated in a. recess upon the interior surface of the carrier disc 3 the base of a jack or terminal receptacle 24 and the metal of the end spun or riveted thereto or threaded thereon to secure the sleeve to the contact carrier disc 3 and form an electrical connection to the jack 24. The portion of the sleeve within the casing is' split longitudinally throughout preferably by four oppositely disposed longitudinal slits and the free end is, reduced in diameter to form a frusto-conical termination 26. A follower cap 21 of the same general conformation is mounted therein to exert an outward spread upon the split sections of the sleeve by the interposing of a coil spring 28 between the follower cap 21 and the shouldered portion of the sleeve in engagement with the carrier disc 3 The actuator A includes a cylindrical metallic member 29 mounted for sliding movement upon the guide contact sleeve 20 having a closed end I and the metal of the other end expanded at right angles thereto to engage the inner surface of the contact carrier disc 3 and struck up to provide six radial equally spaoed'apart semi-cylindrical portions 30, on the radii passing throughthe center of the respective contact strips 6, i,

8, 9, it and H and terminating to be spaced apart therefrom, forming the lower halves of guides for reciprocably mounting cylindrical meaxial'recess 33 upon the interior end to receive 7 the cylindrical member 29 of the actuator and an annular flange 34' about the recessed end. The actuator A also includes a metallic sleeve 35 adapted to receive the flange 34 with the metal of the upper end 36 spun over to engage the upper side of the flange 34 and the metal of the opposite end expanded at right angles preferably in the plane of the recessed end of the operator and'then struck downward to form semi-cylindrical guides 31 and connecting flanges 38 com plementary to the guides and flanges upon the expanded portions of the member 29. The semicylindrical portions 30 and 31 are secured in alignment with each other by extending the flanges 38 to form fingers 39 which are bent over the flanges 3|} therebetween. v

The circuit continuing bridges B are reciprocably mounted in the guidesof the actuator and each comprise a metallic cylindrical portion 40 to be received between the semi-cylindrical portions 30 and'3'i'of theactuator. The outer end of each bridge is closed 'by a restricted semispheroid' closure 4| forming a shoulder 42 with by which the operator may be manually moved in and out to the selected position of the switch.

The jack 24' of the split contact sleeve- 20 is designed to be connected to the conductor (not The outer end of the operator shaft 32 mounts a button or handle-43 2,096,181 with the metal of the outer end passedthrough shown) leading to the battery and the spring 28 maintains an electrical contact between the split sleeve contact 20 and the actuator sleeve 29 during the reciprocation of the actuator A by the operator 0. The ends 4| of the'bridges B are normally held by the shoulders 43 to clear the contact strips. Each contact strip is connected through its respective jack I3 to a conductor (not shown) to one or more of the lamps of the lighting system. It is preferable to-construct each of the contact strips 6, l, 8, 9 and ID with I a longitudinal corrugation or central struck out groove to add to its rigidity which groove is preferably concentric to the semi-spheroid end closures 4| of the adjacent bridge B of the actuator and each of said strips is provided with a contact C preferably formed by striking the body .ofthe strip inwardly to form a frusto-conical projection 41 extending in the path of the corresponding bridge B with its truncated end .48 recessed to receive and contact throughout with the curved surface of the bridge when the bridge has been caused to ride up over the conical wall against the tension of the spring 45 as the operator is'mov'ed. The metal of the bridge between the slits 44 maintains an electrical contact between the bridge and guides 30 and 31 during such movement. I

The contact strip II is designed to be connected through its jack |3 to the conductor (not shown) leading to the rear or tail light and therefore must in all operative positions of the operator 0 form an electricalcontact with the actuator A. To accomplish this and also to maintain the actuator A against rotative movement during reciprocation of the operator 0 the contact strip is preferably formed as shown in detail in Figure 7. The base 49 adjacent the foot. I2 is wider'than the other contact strips andis provided with a rectangular opening 50 adapted to receive a block 5| of insulating material, as

shown in Figures '2 and 3. The block5| rests same to releasably hold the actuator A in its lowermost position in engagement with the inner surface of the contact carrier 3. The body of the contact strip H is offset above the-opening 50 to form a shoulder 54 to engage'the upper side of the block 5| and isthen continued parallel to the casing wall with the longitudinal portion 55 in line with the bottom of the recess 52 of the block 5i and the longitudinal sides arebent inwardly to form flanges 56 in prolongation of the sides of the recessed block 5| to receive the guides of the bridge, and the main body along its longitudinal center line is provided with depressions 5?, corresponding in numberto the operative positions of the actuator, and of similar formation to the recess 53 in the'block 5|.

In the position illustratedin-Figure 2, the operator O has been depressed to its furthermost-position, with a bridge of the actuator in engagement with the insulating block 5! of the contact strip connected to the battery; and, shown in Figure 3, the other bridges of the actuator are all free of contact with the other con tact strip, and no current passes through the switch, so this is the open position of the switch.

In the switch illustrated the first operative position of the actuator is designed to establish a circuit from the battery to the "parking" and tail lights. Therefore, the contact C in the contact strip 8 diametrically opposite the contact strip II and the depression 61 in strip II are aligned to be engaged by the respective bridges on the first outward movement of the operator 0. The contact strip 8 is connected to the conductor (not shown) to the "parking" light or lights. This position is shown in Figure 4. The nextoutward movement of the operator O is designed to connect the tilt" or dim filaments of the headlights to the battery. As

shown in Figure 5, the contact strips 1 and ID are connected by conductors (not shown) to the said filaments and are each provided with contacts C in alignment with the next successive depres sion 51 of the strip i. whereby the respective bridges B of the actuator A close the circuits through contact strips 1, l0 and II. Figure 6 shows the next outward position designed to connect the "bright" filaments of the headlights to the battery. The contact strips 6 and 9 are connected by conductors (not shown) to the said filaments and are each provided with contacts C in alignment with the next successive depression 51' of the strip ll whereby the respective bridges B of the actuator A close the circuits through-the contact strips 6, 9 and II.

The casing i of the switching mechanism is shown in Figures 1 and 2 mounted on the rear side of the instrument board 58 of an automotive vehicle by providing an aperture 59 therein and securing a perforated cup-shaped metallic casing 60 upon the rear of the board, as by spinning the metal of the board marginlng the aperture '59 about the margin of the cup perforation. The wall of the cup casing 60 is provided with a plurality of inwardly struck lugs or projections 6| adapted to be engaged by the closed end 2 of the casing l. The casing I is held detachably within the cup casing 60 by fiat spring members 62 secured to projections 63 formed on opposite sides of the end closure 2, as disclosed in my prior copending application, Serial No. 665,279, filed April 10, 1933. The spring members 62 act as bayonet pins and are receivable within bayonet slots 64. It is preferable to mount an annular sleeve 85 about the operating shaft 32 to snugly engage the aper ure 59 by extending the wall actuator. a plurality of radial circuit continuingbridges mounted thereon, a plurality of fixed conta cts pa allel to the axis of reciprocation engagcaole by various actuator bridges in various recinrecable positions of the actuator, and means upon 'one'of the fixed contacts engageable at all times by the a tuator to prevent rotation of the actuator. I

2. The structure of claim 1 provided with an additional fixed contact arranged in the axis of reciprocation of the actuator with the actuator mounted to reciprocate upon said fixed contact and in electrical contact therewith.

3. The s ructure of claiml wherein one of the fixed contacts is engaged by the same actuating bridge in all operative positions and said fixed contact mounts an insulating member in alignment therewith adapted to be engaged by the said bridge when the actuator is in the inoperative position of the switch.

4. In a push-pull switch, a central fixed elongated guide contact, a circuit continuing actuator mounted for reciprocation thereon, an operator of insulating material for selectively reciprocating the actuator, a plurality of fixed spaced apart elongated contacts arranged radially about the central guide contact, parallel thereto and insulated from each other, a corresponding number of similarly arranged circuit continuing bridges mounted upon the actuator, means upon one of the parallel contacts providing a track over which one of thebridges continuously wipes, and contact points upon the other parallel contacts adapted to be selectively engaged by other bridges.

5. The structure of claim 4 wherein the fixed contact wiped over by one of the bridges provides means to maintain the alignment of the bridges with the contact points during reciprocation.

6. In a push-pull switch, a cup-shaped metallic casing having an aperture in the closed end and a contact carrying disc of insulating material secured upon the open end, a central elongated fixed guide contact mounted axially upon the contact carrier, a plurality of spaced apart elongated fixed contact strips mounted upon the contact carrier parallel to and radially disposed about the guide contact, a metallic circuit continuing actuator mounted with a sliding electrical connection upon the said guide contact, an operator of insulating material passing through the aperture in the casing to reciprocate the actuator, a plurality of circuit continuingbridges radially mounted upon the actuator, one of the contact strips formed to provide continuous engagement with its corresponding bridge, and means upon the other contact strips adapted to be selectively engaged by the bridges corresponding thereto upon reciprocation of the actuator.

7. The structure of claim 6 wherein the guide contact passes through the contact carrier and mounts upon the exterior thereof a terminal receiving Jack.

8. The structure of claim 6 wherein the guide contact includes a split sleeve and the actuator includes a cylindrical member adapted to receive and slide over said split sleeve.

9. The structure of claim 6wherein the guide contact includes a split sleeve and the actuator includes a cylindrical member adapted to receive and slide over said split sleeve, and wherein means is provided within the split sleeve to maintain a sliding electrical contact between the central guide contact and the actuator.

10. The structure of claim 6 wherein a positioning disc of insulating material having an aperture corresponding to the end aperture is mounted upon the free ends of the contact strips.

ii. The structure of claim 6 wherein the contact strip in continuous engagement with the br dge includes an offset adjacent the contact carrier and a block of insulating material therein in line with the bridge engaging surface to be engaged by the bridge when the actuator is in its lowermost position.

12. The structure of claim 6 wherein the said bridge engaging means includes frusto-conical projections upon the said strips.

13. The structure of claim 6 wherein the said bridge engaging means includes irusto-conical projections upon the said strips. and whereinsaid surface continuously engaged by the bridge is provided with a plurality oi. depressions-each in alignment with the selected contact projection of the contact strips as the actuator is reciprocated to close selected circuits.

14. The structure of claim 6 wherein the ac-'v 16. The structure oi claim 6 wherein the actuator includes a cylindrical metallic sleeve. adapted to slide over the guide contact terminating in an annular flange having semi-cylindrical portions struck upwardly in the body of the flange to receive the bridges and a complementary formed cover about the sleeve above the flange guides to complete the guides for the" bridges, means securing the flat portions of the flange and cover between the guides to each other, and said cover provided with means for securing the actuator to the operator.

1'7. The structure of claim 6 wherein the actuator includes a cylindrical metallic sleeve adapted to slide over the guide contact termimating in an annular flange having semi-cylindrical portions struck upwardly in the body of the flange to receive the bridges'and a complementary formed cover about the sleeve above the flange guides to complete the guides for the bridges, means securing the flat portions of the flange and cover between the guides to each other, in which the bridge guides are formed with restricted extremities and-in which each bridge includes a cup-shaped metallic casing having an elongated reduced closed end adapted to extend through and beyond the restricted ends of the guides with split sides in electrical contact with the guides and resiliently maintained in the extended position by springs interposed between the bridges and the actuator sleeve.

18. An electric switch, comprising: a base; ac-

tuator means, movable in adirection toward and away from said base; bridge means. carried by said actuator means, and comprising radially extending tubular portions, and yieldable abutments disposed within respective tubular portions, said bridge means being moved by said actuator means to various positions; a plurality of contact means, arranged to be selectively engaged by said bridge means, and each having at least one abutment constructed and arranged to engage a respective yieldable abutment carried by said bridge means, in certain positions of said bridge means.

19. An electric switch, comprising: a ,base; axially movable actuating means, movable in a direction toward and away from said base, said actuating means having an axial recess; bridge means, carried by said base, and having a projection disposed within said axial recess, said bridge means comprising a plurality of radially extending tubular portions, each tubular porwherein the action communicating at one end with said projection, and a movable detent member closing the 1 other end of each of said tubular portions, spring means being disposed within each of saidtubular portions, and interposed between said projection and a respective detent member; and contact means, carried by said base, and being constructedand arranged for engagement with said detent members. p

20. An electric switch, comprising: a base; actuator means,movable in a direction toward and away from said base; bridge means, carried by said actuator means, and comprising radially extending tubular portions, and yieldable abutments disposed within each tubular portion, a

plurality of contact means, adapted to be selectively engaged by said bridge means, and each means having a portion constructed and arranged to engage the adjacent tubular portions,

to hold said bridge means -to movement only toward and away from said base. i

21. An electric switch, comprising: a base; a center contact, secured to said base, and having a portion extending axially away from said base; bridge means, mounted on said contact portion for reciprocatory movement, and having sliding electrical engagement with said contact portion, said bridge means having a radially extending tubular portion provided with a yieldable abutment at its extremity; resilient means, constructed and arranged to press said bridge means into good electrical engagement with said center.

contact portion; and at least one ofi-center contact, adapted to be electrically connected to said bridge means, and having an abutment constructed and arranged to engage the yieldable abutment carried by said bridge means, in a certain position of said bridge means.

22. An electric switch, comprising: a base; bridge means mounted for reciprocation along the axis of said base. and having radially extending portions lying in a common plane transverse to the axisof reciprocation, each of said portions having a yieldable extremity; and elongated contact strips 01 a number equal to the number of extending portions, each being secured to the base and held parallel to the movementof said bridge means, but clear of said yieldable extremities, and each having a contacting portion extending into the path of movementof the yieldable extremities of said bridge means, certain of the contacting portions engaging certain of the yieldable extremities in difierent positions of said bridge means.

23. An electric switch, comprising: a base; a split tubularoontact member having one end secured to said base, and having its other-end tapering inwardly; a second contact member, secured to said base, and being insulated from said tubular contact member; bridge means, comprising a metallic tubular member fitting over said contact member, and having sliding electrical engagement with said contact member, said bridge means comprising also a part constructed and arranged to engage said second contact member in a certain position of said bridge means; a spring disposed within said tubular contact; and a cam element, pressed by said spring into engagement with-the inwardly tapering end of said tubular contact, and being constructed and arranged to spread the split porparallel to the movement of said bridge means, and secured to said base so as to clear said detent member, said contact strip comprising a contacting portion extending into the path of movement of said detent member, and including arecess portion adapted to receive said detent member to yieldably hold said bridge means in a predetermined position, and including also cam portions constructed and arranged to compress the spring urging said detent member outwardly, before said detent member reaches the recess portion oi. said contact strip.

HARRY A. DOUGLAS. 

